Storm Austen is causing widespread power cuts and travel disruption – with wind gusts of 84mph (135km/h) recorded at Jersey Airport
More than 18,000 homes in parts of England and Wales are without power, as millions remain under a yellow weather warning for wind
In Brighton, a section of the iconic West Pier has collapsed. One local says he is "shocked by the amount of pier that's ended up in the sea"
Great Western Railway warns of disruption due to fallen trees on several train lines in Devon and Cornwall, while Network Rail Scotland says trains will be slowed down along parts of the West and East coast main lines
On Saturday, a separate storm, named Boelo, is forecast to bring more strong winds to Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England
Yellow and amber wind warnings will be in place for Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England for much of the weekend, with a yellow alert beginning in Northern Ireland from 10:00 on Saturday
Hannah Stacey
BBC Radio Cornwall, reporting from Portreath
Image source, Hannah Stacey/BBCIt’s blowing hard in Portreath but quiet. There are not many people to be seen, hardly any lights on, and the sea is a slab of white water crashing in towards the shoreline.
It’s about mid-tide and the tide's receding.
The waves are crashing over the base of Gull Rock.
Sue Horsepool-Garau, who lives in Cobo on the west coast of Guernsey, says it was "very blustery" overnight.
She says she struggled to open windows at her home due to the strength of the winds from Storm Austen.
"It was just mad last night," she tells BBC Radio Guernsey.
"You could just hear things banging around.
"Living on the west coast in the summer it's beautiful so you have to take the good with the bad.
"There's nothing but us that stops the wind coming through so it can be quite breezy."
The stormy weather will continue across the weekend, with weather warnings issued across Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of England.
Storm Boelo is due to arrive on Saturday, and a Met Office yellow weather warning is in force for wind from 18:00 BST tomorrow, through to 21:00 on Saturday.
The warning covers all of Scotland, aside from Shetland, parts of North West and North East England, as well as all of Northern Ireland.
The Met Office warns that there could be some damage to buildings, as well as disruption to transport and potential danger to life from flying debris or large waves.
Image source, Alex BaileyTrevone trees get a battering.
Here's a round up of disruption in Cornwall.
The Government of Jersey says the following roads are blocked:
As Storm Austen lashes the UK, here's what you need to know:
Simon King
Lead weather presenter, in Newquay
The winds are ferocious here in Newquay this morning.
Windows and doors have been rattling of the shelter I’m trying to stay in and it’s difficult to walk straight outside with heavy rain driving into your face.
Storm Austen is currently moving east along the English Channel but it’s the western flank of the storm where the most dangerous winds are hitting south-west England, the Isle of Scilly and the Channel Islands.
Gusts have been close to 80mph (130 km/h) and it’s going to stay like this through the morning.
Other parts of England and Wales will see strengthening winds through the day and while not as powerful as here in the south-west, strong enough to bring some minor impacts and travel disruption.
As Storm Austen crosses the South West, amber weather warnings are in place from the Met Office.
Here is the latest travel disruption:
Haven says its Perran Sands and Riviere Sands sites in Cornwall will be shut during Storm Austen.
"Anyone staying on the park is being asked to leave and we’ll be delaying arrivals," a spokesperson says.
"We’re communicating directly with everyone affected about their options and will offer those due to arrive on Friday a break at another Haven park or a later arrival in Cornwall.
"We’re really sorry that people’s breaks are being disrupted but safety of our guests and team comes first."
Image source, Lewis Clarke/GeographLiberty Bus is asking people in Jersey to check its service disruption page before travelling this morning.
Numbers 2, 3, 12, 15 and 33 have had to change their routes so check its website, external.
It adds all double decker buses won't be out until the wind eases - which is expected to be at about 12:00 or 13:00 BST.
The government is advising you to avoid going outside during the stormy conditions as a red wind warning is in place.
Network Rail Scotland says trains will be slowed down to keep people safe in the areas expected to see the heaviest rain.
Speed restrictions will be in place on parts of the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line, as well as routes across southern and eastern Scotland.
Some journeys will take longer as a result.
Craig Gorman, head of operational weather strategy at Network Rail Scotland, said: "We know any disruption from these storms will be frustrating, particularly as it's the weekend, but we'll do everything we can to keep people moving wherever it's safe to do so."
Channel Islands Coop says it will not open any of its food and pharmacy stores in Jersey and Guernsey until 13:00 BST due to safety reasons.
It adds home deliveries and in-store services may also be affected during Storm Austen.
DFDS has cancelled all fast ferries in Jersey until the end of the weekend because of the strong winds.
Its next high-speed sailing will be a rescheduled crossing to St Malo on Monday.
The ferry company said it was considering running a service to Portsmouth on Sunday, and more freight services over the weekend, if weather conditions allow.
Stav Danaos
BBC Weather
Here are the latest wind gusts across the far South West, which have eased slightly over the past hour as the strongest winds continue to move eastwards.
The St Mawes passenger ferry in Cornwall has been cancelled.
The service between St Mawes and Falmouth said it was suspending services "due to strong winds and adverse weather conditions".
The service carries more than 162,000 passengers a year on the 2.8 mile (4.5km) route.
In Scotland, a yellow warning for rain is in place for central and eastern areas which will last until midnight.
Forecasters say some places could experience 60-80mm (2.5-3 inches) of rain, with a risk of flooding and travel disruption.
Storm Boelo will follow hard on its heels on Saturday, with another yellow weather warning issued, this time for high winds, for the whole of mainland Scotland, the Western Isles and Orkney.
The wind warning will come into force from 18:00 BST on Saturday and last until 21:00 on Sunday with gusts of 50-65mph (80-105 km/h) forecast, possibly reaching 80mph (130 km/h) in exposed locations.
Due to Storm Austen, Loganair says it has been forced to cancel several flights it operates.
A message on its website, external says 18 flights today, along with a flight which was due to fly between Southampton and Jersey on Thursday evening, are cancelled.
Routes affected on Friday include Jersey to Bristol, Manchester to Cornwall Airport Newquay, and Edinburgh to Exeter.
It adds people due to fly from Bristol, Cornwall Airport Newquay, Exeter, Jersey and Southampton during a yellow wind warning active until Friday afternoon, can change their flight at no cost.
The airline adds: "We plan to operate all other scheduled services, and we have standby aircraft and crews in place to recover any disrupted flights as soon as conditions allow."
Bridget in Nancledra, near St Ives, told BBC Radio Cornwall: "We've been rocking and rolling."
She said her power had been on and off since 05:00 BST.
She is a farmer and said her power went off at milking time.
However it didn't affect her too much and she says her neighbours have generators.
Enzo Davy from the Jersey Met live weather team says while the storm has passed over the Channel Islands, conditions are still hazardous outside.
He says between 08:00 and 10:00 BST, storm force 10 wind gusts of around 85mph (137km/h) are possible.
"Although centre of storm has technically moved through the area, the weather is still expected to worsen for a time as winds continue to strengthen," he says.
"So while the centre of the storm may have passed, the danger certainly hasn't.
"The latest advice from the authorities remains to stay at home unless it's necessary to go out."
Travellers can expect delays at the Tamar Bridge crossing between Devon and Cornwall.
The operator Tamar Crossings said because of the high winds it has closed the centre lane.
It has also reduced the ferry service between Torpoint in Cornwall and Devonport in Devon to a one ferry service "due to extreme weather conditions preventing the Lynher ferry from landing safely at Devonport".
In Cornwall the A30 bypass eastbound near Redruth is blocked because of debris on the road and an accident between Tolvaddon and Avers roundabout, the Inrix traffic service is reporting.
It says traffic is coping well.